The Nicodemus enterprise. [volume] (Nicodemus, Kan.) 1887-1887, 1887-10-05
DAKOTA'S POP-WEED.
A Remarkable Plant Which So'retim
Creates a Decided Sensation

Remarkable Plant Which Sometimes :
Creates a Decided Sensation. ;
The last six years have developed |
wonderful things in Dakota, hoth IN
the productions Of the soil and OF the
settlers, if we may believe the news
papers. and until we have occasion 10
doubt Dakota editor our confidence
will remain mistaken. Eastern DAko-
f. i old now and no new thing can
come out Of il to startle the world
end since the delicious Buffalo berry |
acknowledged 10 Pierre lady, year |
! aro. that il was discovered, men OF |
! science have crossed the Big Muddy
into the wilds Ley0nd, and their uls-
rnvnries are numerous and even more
wonderful than before. 4 Dakota
editor and his wife while out snaklng
recently discovered several new
snec;es of snakes. the most interesting
Of which was the fish snake.
Two wears ago the pop-weed nrst
made its appearance along the borders
of civilization from the interior OF the
Sioux Reservation; and cattlemenl
alone the Missouri bottoms have had
! Interesting times ever since. 1t IS
unite late in the fall when the pop
Z weed ball begins to roll like tumble
! weeds over the prairies. The pop
! weed IS a rank growing weed known
: only 10 this scction it has stalk hkG
; the cabbage plant, with large rorhGi
I TON the size Of n Hubbard squash anu
Z ohout the same color. There are thou
- sands Of acres Of the pop-weed IN the
y reservation, and they are very numet
u ous and GROW to a prodigious size II
- the vicinity of ''alkai beds
~ When the 'terrifc northwest WINDS
~ blow late in the fall the poP-balls3 De
come detached from the stalks and rol
IL for miles over the prairies; until the,
~ reach uneven country or o'Her W
~ ~ structions, where they accumulate an
- pile up like high banks OF snow d,
~ hind these banks OF weeds the WI
"a buffalo found shelter Ill mld-Wiltt
eu from the fierce billiards.. Ii the POI
'9 weed ball comes forcibly IN conta'
W with any hard object while rolling
hE ovDlodes with tremendous report,
on cloud of fine powder passes on throu9
81 ''n the air, and thousands OF sharp III
III needles are thrown out Ill every dlre
~ ton. These needles are the SEEDS
9oe the p0p-weed, and are what Produ
no the mischief with stock, for they a
very penetrating. A ''critter, w
AZ RIM from a rolling pop-wecd like
iol iack-rabbit from coyote.
III; The Indians now located at Brl
req Agency tell strange and INTEREST,"
WIN st7rics about the weed. 1t is said ii
:nS the Young braves Of the tribe
NY DISCIPLINE and to prepare themsei'
mn! IN. to endure great torture, would sci
lh9 chiefs and array themselves III bal
lH9S line. and fight with these pop-o'
~, like schoo!boys in a SNOWFALL cont
lYer .IThe battle OF the pop-weed" was h
'cI0 once q wear, and was witnessed by
9A- whole tribe with great pomP
9nC' parade. This day was to the yo'
GUS braves what the Fourth OF July /
en-. en- the American youth. There were
5il4n smoke and noise of battle t" per
~ tion, and the fine. sharp needles cav
'io !. intense pain. The greatest exhibit
:" !; nj bravery were rewarded by pro
o 'pa tion in the tribe, and Presentati0l
oiloe handsome bead-Work were maze
heH' the Young braves best girls
max RTt this famous weed, that
ards sbnltpred the wild buffalo of the pl
..o. from the winter storms ana was
in the sham DalUIcS VI Inv y JUNO
'llIl7, braves, has since become very Oh
'u?ht ions 70 the Missouri River cattlel
Out and they are agitating the questi'
Ilihc' the best method of obtaining pr
~ ." t;on from it. In the ''NlIlage OF
., Weed" $50 called by the Indian:
SILVER cause the weeds cover the groun
WY miles at this point and gro"
iioIl larne) are the arroW-Sr0uhu'.
hcf7rc starting on the annual
NO. thay went in large numbers t.
Do6-wced village for arrows
Talks. noedles from the largest pop
are very long, and when baked
low OF ashes become very hard and 5
d who and make good arrows. WheI
eka u found large pop-baH they
inter- shoot into it with arrows ana ca
rs lt;H 1''o 70 explode and throw out its ne
~ 9,''i boe which they gathered and prepal
~ ,oi t'' of use. The Indians went arroWiI
J2 ~, in the fall. and before the pol
ny Phi hall commenced to roll over the
I ~" - = les all the Indian villages were
sue - cd. This wa, the order of Tho
;,'ror7 every fall to get their horses an'
- r', oor- stock ont OF the way of the dan
q - ~. nop-wccd to prevent them tro
7,,anscs nine away. The p0p-Weed IS
N ,,,l-r,v-n IN hntaOi<'-